I’m sure we’ve all meditated from time to time on the wisdom of Lao-tzu, whose proverb says, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Celebrating the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. brings this maxim into sharp relief. The millions of moments that Dr. King infused with his philosophy of non-violence built upon each other until he and the countless others he inspired were able to surmount the greatest of obstacles.
AOK will be celebrating Martin Luther King’s mission with LIFE Camp, Inc.’s NY Peace Week through January 22nd. Led by Erica Ford, the week’s festivities bring together community activists, celebrities, and youth advocates to show the young people of New York that “peace is a LIFE style” that they can live every day.
LIFE Camp, NY Peace Week and AOK are strong believers in the ability of a grassroots movement to change statistics such as those that cite homicide as a leading cause of death amongst New York City’s youngest citizens. And it is that indomitable spirit of choosing a lifestyle of peace and non-violence every day that we seek to record at AOK. Visit the *nypeaceweek flashtag to share your own actions, or those of someone who has inspired you.
When I consider the life and times of MLK and imagine bearing witness to such senseless discrimination, I always wonder what in my lifetime will make the next generation shake their heads in disbelief. With every act of kindness and gesture of mindfulness towards another person, we chip away at the veneer that often disguises the wrong as acceptable and the good as dangerous. While it can be difficult to shake off the haze of the status quo, it is that essential first step in the thousand-mile journey.
For a startling numerical exploration into the work that is yet to be done, read Peace Week supporter Russell Simmons and Dylan Ratigan’s Huffington Post blog, Occupy the Dream: The Mathematics of Racism.
